German Phrase
Es ist schon an.
Meaning
Literally "It is already on," this colloquial German expression means that something is due, the time has come, or it is someone's turn. It often carries a slight sense of urgency or impatience, as if to say “the moment has arrived.”
When to use
Use it when you want to tell someone that their turn has arrived, a deadline is reached, or an event is happening sooner than expected. It works well in informal conversations, classroom settings, or when coordinating tasks.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Esistschonan
Dummy subject "Es"
"Es" is used as a placeholder subject when the real subject is implied, similar to English "it".
Verb "sein" (ist)
"ist" is the third‑person singular present of "sein" (to be) and links the subject to the predicate.
Adverb "schon"
"schon" means "already" and adds a sense of timeliness or impatience.
Particle "an"
In this idiom "an" functions as a short form of "an der Reihe" (up, one's turn) and is colloquial.
🗨In Conversation
Entschuldigung, darf ich jetzt meine Präsentation halten?
Excuse me, may I give my presentation now?
Ja, es ist schon an.
Yes, it’s already your turn.
✕Common Mistakes
Es ist an.
Leaving out "schon" changes the nuance; without it the sentence sounds neutral rather than indicating that the time has already arrived.
Es ist schon an der Tür.
Using "an" to refer to a location (e.g., "Es ist an der Tür") is a different meaning; here "an" is a particle meaning "up/your turn".
↔Alternatives
Du bist dran.
You’re up.
Es ist an der Reihe.
It’s your turn.
Es ist soweit.
It’s time.
Cultural Tip
The short form "Es ist schon an" is common in spoken German, especially among younger speakers. In more formal contexts you would say "Es ist an der Reihe" or "Es ist soweit". Be aware that "an" alone can sound very casual, so match the register to the situation.